Her garden never had blooming flowers, they were wilting away. She never cared; after all, her country had lost the Fabula Nova crystal many generations ago.

Noctis smiled when his eyes beheld her.

It'll only be for her. This war, this bloodshed, it's only to protect her.

He approached his beloved and sat beside her on the grass.

"Stella? You didn't greet me when I called. How come?"

The young woman folded her arms across her white dress and frowned. Noctis parted his lips slightly. He took in her form and wondered what any other man will wonder: Was there any beauty that would surpass hers?

She was perfection.

Stella had hair that reminded him of golden sand and crystal blue eyes like the sea at the Phon Coast. Her perfect physiognomy was equivalent to goddess Etro. Sometimes he mused if she had emerged from a painting.

They met at a masquerade. He was so drunk then that he tumbled to the floor, pulling the skirt of her dress with him. A large piece of fabric came away from her costume. Luckily, they wore masks so no one recognised who they were.

He bought her a new dress to apologise. Their relationship blossomed after that. His father gave Noctis permission to propose to the Tenebraen.

Though Tenebrae was not a powerful country, Noctis did not care. He wanted Stella; that was all. Many people at the court reported that Stella is using Noctis for the Caelum's Fabula Nova crystal.

To Noctis, their words were a lie.

Caelum was the only country left with a crystal from goddess Etro. The other smaller countries that practiced the Black Arts lost their crystals many years ago due to greed and war.

Noctis placed his hand over her bare shoulder and turned her towards him. He caught a whiff of her peachy scent.

"Hey, are you angry because of last week?" he whispered, eyes searching deep into hers.

Show me your secrets...

Stella averted her gaze. Noctis gave a satisfactory smirk but continued to stare.

The princess shifted uncomfortably.

"You didn't have to kill those soldiers so mercilessly," she replied. Noctis rolled his eyes. He clicked his fingers.

A rose materialized in his hand. He slipped the stem behind Stella's ear. A faint blush glowed on her cheeks.

"I only wanted to protect you, Lady Stella. You know I would travel to the end of the world for you if I had to," Noctis stated. Stella's lips curved into a smile at his words.

"I know you will always protect me but try not to kill so many people...It's disturbing," she murmured.

"I do not kill everyone. I only kill those that are a threat to Caelum and Tenebrae. Do you understand me?"

"But Noct, that's not what I really mean."

Stella sighed and gazed back at the prince, her eyes tired with defeat.

"People are spreading wicked rumours about you, my lord. My ears cannot bear another horrible word against you."

Noctis touched her cheek.

"If you love me Stella, then rumours shouldn't perturb you unless...You doubt my love for you?"

Stella gasped and shook her head; her hair flowed gently with the movement.

"Oh no, Noct! Nothing shall ever come in between my love. Please forgive me for ever listening to the other members of the court."

The heavy air around them diminished slightly. The prince embraced Stella and kissed her passionately.

She fingered the strands of his hair and returned the kiss with equal vehemence.

The secrets to satisfy my garden of lust...

Gabranth removed his helmet and observed droplets of sweat dribble to the red cashmere. His body was scorched beneath his armour due to the sweltering heat.

Being a judge is tough.

The image of his twin brother swivelled through his restless mind.

"Basch, don't leave! Mother needs us at this stage," he retorted. Basch stood opposite the door. He held the door knob, trembling.

"I am only leaving so that I may work. We're running low on gil and nobody has enough to pay the rent any more. I shall leave to seek work in the army," he replied.

Noah curled his fists into a ball, gritting his teeth and reached for the closet object: a vase. The teenager flung it towards his brother only to miss by a few inches from his twin's head.

Basch didn't flinch but gave a heavy sigh. His boots crunched the broken shards beneath him.

"I am sorry Noah and in time, I do hope that you will come to understand." He opened the door and left.

Gabranth gritted his teeth, a habit he picked up from too much stress and a habit he should get rid of.

"Understand indeed Basch..."

He caught his reflection off a large mirror down the hallway and stopped to examine himself.

Basch had the same high forehead, the same straight, pointed nose and the same thin lips. The only feature that separated them was the scar across Basch's forehead that extended across the bridge of his nose, one that he obtained from a previous battle.

"Look at you now, Basch. You're only a Knight of Dalmasca yet I am a Judge. You should have stayed," Gabranth uttered to himself.

"Who are you talking to Gabranth?" a voice interrupted his pensive.

Gabranth cleared his throat and pretended to ruffle his hair. He turned to face a woman about the same age as him, wearing a Judge's armour.

"Ah, Judge Drace, greetings," he said with a blush. He admired this woman with all his heart. She was the only woman in the Archadian council.

Drace motivated him to lead a pious and modest life, something the other Judges or lords feigned. Without her, the council would have fallen apart before he came to Archadia.

"Greetings Gabranth, are you sure you weren't talking to someone?" she asked, arms crossed over her chest. Dark eyes bore through his grey ones, beckoning him to give in.

"I..." Gabranth licked his parched lips nervously.

"Alright, never mind," Drace said, waving her hand to the left to dismiss the topic.

"I have some important matters to talk about," she added, her voice now solemn. A clouded mist obscured her dark eyes.

Gabranth nodded attentively. He was the only one in the council that she trusted and therefore, he received her opinion over matters before the other lords and judges.

I am so privileged.

Drace surveyed her surroundings with caution. She leaned closer to Gabranth and spoke in a whisper.

"I overheard Emperor Vayne talking to Ghis in his bedroom. They are planning to conquer Dalmasca."

Gabranth furrowed his eyebrows together. An image of Basch appeared in the depths of his mind before dissipating.

"Did King Raminas sign a treaty?" he asked. His rapid heartbeat surprised him.

Do I still care about Basch? No! He is a traitor...

"No Gabranth. The Emperor is plotting this without the Dalmascan King's approval. He will hold Dalmasca under siege and use their land as a battlefield against the empire of Caelum," Drace stated in a soft voice.

"You should let your brother know about this. We need to extend our hand to Dalmasca so that they may assist us in this war, not fear us. The Emperor's idea is irrational and what is worse is that Judge Ghis approves of it."

Gabranth rubbed his clean-shaven jaw and moved his hand to his neck, thinking deeply.

Drace was right.

After they exchanged more news about Vayne and Master Larsa, Gabranth took his leave. He undulated towards the top of a turret.

"Dalmasca has the Sword of Kings...The sword I've read about so voraciously...I think this could come into my use after all."